Chronicle Watch: the streets still stink — P.U.

Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, power washes a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, power washes a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, applies disinfectant to a particularly contaminated doorway on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, applies disinfectant to a particularly contaminated doorway on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, sprays a disinfectant before steam cleaning a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, sprays a disinfectant before steam cleaning a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, steam cleans a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, steam cleans a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, steam cleans a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, steam cleans a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, dons hazmat gear before steam cleaning a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, dons hazmat gear before steam cleaning a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, sprays a disinfectant before steam cleaning a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Stephen Lee, from the Department of Public Works, sprays a disinfectant before steam cleaning a sidewalk on Jessie Street near Sixth Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Chronicle Watch: the streets still stink -- P.U.

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In 2002, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a law banning public urination.

But your nose on any given day in the city tells you that obviously hasn’t done much good. And there’s not much more the city can do about it because of limits on what police can do when enforcing the public urination ban.

According to the 2002 law, a police officer can’t cite a public urinator unless they witness the act first-hand. Neither video nor eyewitness complaints are enough to issue a citation.

Between Jan. 1 and June 30 of this year, the Department of Public Works received 5,636 requests for steam-cleaning sidewalk service.

“We know it’s a stinky problem for the city,” spokeswoman Rachel Gordon said. “No one likes it. It’s not good for the residents, the tourists or the people who work here. Unfortunately, it’s a part of urban living that people will relieve themselves in less than ideal places.”